A terrible forecast!

In the penultimate week of the red-ball campaign the Rams have a short-trip to Bury. After a worrying dip in form the Suffolk side restored some confidence in last week Suffolk derby at home to Copdock. You may remember that astonishing start to the pink ball game at the beginning of May when Bury, who were unbeaten at that point, found themselves at eighteen for six! The Rams eventually running out winners by five wickets after a tremendous rearguard effort by the visitors. Putting enough runs on the board has continued to be their Achilles heal although they did manage to post three hundred last week; only skipper Josh Cantrell is in the top thirty run scorers in the league. Unlike last year they have struggled for a settled batting line up; particularly upfront.

The Rams name an unchanged side this week but they may start to lose Nikhil Gorantla following the marvellous news that he has earned himself a two-year contract with the country’s top side Surrey.  We look forward to the Thain – Gorantla battles in the future; taking a little bit of pride that we have helped them both, a little, on their journey.

Horsford in second after their surprise home defeat will want to bounce back with a trip to bottom side AB Wanderers, who themselves are desperate for a win in the Norfolk derby. Copdock in third have an all-Suffolk tussle away at Sudbury. The division’s form team Witham will be looking for a fifth victory on the trot; and a potential move into the top two,  when they host Witchingham. Downham who unlike Witham are probably grateful that there are only two red ball games left meet Norfolk rivals Swardeston.  Mildenhall have a trip to the seaside with the hosts, Frinton,  looking to build on last week’s excellent win.

The second team host Histon in the Onyx Premier. Histon have had two excellent wins in the last fortnight; defeating Eaton Socon and then doing the Rams a big favour by demolishing Blunham. The visitors have a couple of batsmen Jacob O’Sullivan and Edward Hyde with over five hundred league runs (sixth and seventh in the rankings). Ben Leach with twenty-four scalps is eighth on the ladder; seven wickets and six places below our own Darcy Murphy. John Turner with twenty-three wickets is just behind Leach in the battle to be Histon’s leading wicket-taker. Strangely thanks to the vagaries of the fixtures this is the team’s first meeting of 2025. The Rams expect to be a full strength and will hope that the batting can spark back to life. Dan Heath returns to captain the side and Ed Ball is also welcomed back; Dan Pretorious rejoins the third team after helping out.

After three weeks of despair over player availability third team skipper, Jake Ellis, has an embarrassment of riches. He has a squad of seventeen to chose from and he still has a handful of handy cricketers unavailable! If the availabilities stabilise the team still has an excellent chance of promotion. He is likely to keep faith with a number of his highly promising youngsters to which he added another with the recruitment of fifteen-year-old Gabriel Harter. The youngster warmed up with his first Rams five-fa in midweek. Ellis has a number of highly experienced players available this weekend, and may be faced with some difficult choices.  They make the short trip to Great Chesterford. The hosts have also struggled of late with two defeats in a row going into Saturday’s match.  The Rams were very impressive winners in the first game in early May; racing to an eight wicket win inside twenty-eight overs.

With a surplus of resources in the third team the fourth team skipper , Dom Cameron, is likely to have a similar selection dilemma. However, he will be able to ‘rest’ some of the senior player’s that were pressganged into action over the last fortnight. The Rams host Girton. Girton will be out for revenge as the Rams, who had struggled all week  to get a side out, sprang a surprise and handed the opposition their first defeat in June. Unfortunately that was the Ram’s last victory! The visitors are still handily placed in second as they look to secure a promotion.

Hopefully after a winless week last week the Rams can post some successes but they may well have to defeat the elements as well as the opposition.

James Vandepeer warmed up with a fabulous one hundred and twenty-three not out from sixty balls ( 7 x 4, and 11 maximums); unfortunately for the Rams he was playing for his home village of Chippenham as they lifted the Adams Harrison League Cup.